That saying "time flies when you are having fun" really applied last week during our vacation. We left last Sunday and drove to Atlanta to our best friend's house. We met them in downtown to eat at a restaurant. Things were really crazy with people camped out on the sidewalks and streets waiting for the July 4th fireworks show.
It is always awesome to get to spend time with our friends. They are truly family to us. We feel totally comfortable when we are with them. We stay up late laughing, sleep in, hang out letting the kids play and just have a lot of fun.
Any time we are together, my sweet hubs always insists that Sheri and I have "girl time". On Monday night after supper he told us to make our plans because he was going to be keeping the kids on Tuesday.
We had so much fun. We went and had pedicures. We were so relaxed after the pedicure that we went and ate lunch at the Atlanta Bread Company. Loved that place!
After lunch we were recharged and ready for a day of shopping. My friend is one of the best bargain shoppers ever which is why I love to shop with her. I think everywhere we went everything she picked up wound up being cheaper than marked on the tag! Gotta love that when you are shopping.
When we got home that night the kids didn't even notice us walking. They had had so much fun going for pizza, swimming and going to the movies that they love "girl time" as much as we do! Thank you, my sweet hubs! You are so amazing!
When we woke up Wednesday to leave for Asheville, it felt good knowing that the boys were staying with people that they loved. The question would be.... would they want to come home when we came back to pick them up?
Monday, July 12, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Christy Awards
The Christy Award awards were recently held and presented live online. I couldn't wait to see who might win some of the awards since I have read so many of the books that were up for nomination. If you still haven't found your summer reading book, this is a GREAT list to pick from as I have read almost every one of these. I haven't read Fireflies in December or Lost Mission but I plan to solve that soon. Best Contemporary Romance:  Best Contemporary Series:  Best Contemporary Stand Alone:   Best First Novel: Best Historical (Bethany House):  Best Historical Romance, Julie Klassen, The Silent Governess (Bethany House):  Best Suspense:  Best Visionary:  Best Young Adult:  |
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Happy Anniversary, My Sweet Husband
We stood in front of our parents, our family, our friends and God and said, "I do." Every day for the past twenty years, I have woke up beside you and said, "I do" all over again.
Some people define romance as flowers, chocolates and expensive nights on the town. It is so much more romantic to me to get in the car and always find my gas tank on full, knowing that the trash will magically disappear on trash days, finding my favorite drink in the refrigerator, loads of clean laundry, and always a beautiful yard.
Of course, you truly are the most romantic guy I know. Finding a special CD in my player which automatically starts playing a special song. A phone call which says "I love you." You bringing home supper for two for after the boys go to bed. Coming in to sit on the bed at night to talk about our day. Opening car doors.
We are a circle of three... you, me and God. We began the tradition early in our marriage of holding hands, but not both hands when we prayed to leave one hand open for God to hold. God has never let go of us. Through sickness and health, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, loving and cherishing.... He has been there and never left us.
Some people define romance as flowers, chocolates and expensive nights on the town. It is so much more romantic to me to get in the car and always find my gas tank on full, knowing that the trash will magically disappear on trash days, finding my favorite drink in the refrigerator, loads of clean laundry, and always a beautiful yard.
Of course, you truly are the most romantic guy I know. Finding a special CD in my player which automatically starts playing a special song. A phone call which says "I love you." You bringing home supper for two for after the boys go to bed. Coming in to sit on the bed at night to talk about our day. Opening car doors.
We are a circle of three... you, me and God. We began the tradition early in our marriage of holding hands, but not both hands when we prayed to leave one hand open for God to hold. God has never let go of us. Through sickness and health, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, loving and cherishing.... He has been there and never left us.
Happy 20th Anniversary, My Sweet Husband
I love you more than these simple words convey.
I love you more than these simple words convey.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Top 10 Reasons To Homeschool
A very popular homeschool curriculum, Sonlight, posted what they consider the "Top Ten Reasons to Homeschool your Children."
Glance through them...
2. To encourage academic excellence in your children.
3. To speak and meet your child’s unique, individual needs.
4. To help your children through the difficult times in their lives.
5. To help your children understand the hard questions we face in life.
6. To build intimate and meaningful relationships with your children in order to show them how much you love them.
7. To share with your children the common, everyday joys of life and be there when they need you most.
8. To be your children’s mentor, spiritual leader, role model, friend and teacher.
9. To protect your children from the negative influence they may encounter outside the home.
10. To instill in your children a life-long love for learning and to show than that learning is not boring, but exciting.
While I truly love homeschooling, I don't think that you have to homeschool to accomplish most of the things on this list. It is my hope that we were working on this list LONG before we started homeschooling.
In fact, there is only one thing on this list that was a factor in deciding to homeschool. Number 10 talks about instilling a love for learning. Both of my boys had lost their love of learning in public school. So much of public education these days is teaching to the "middle" as well as teaching to tests that there is little room for personal growth of even creativity and imagination. At the point we took the boys out of school they definitely would not have described learning as fun and exciting.
So how do you feel about this list? A reason to homeschool or just a a good list of ways to be fully involved in your child's life?
Glance through them...
The Top Ten Reasons to Homeschool Your Children
1. To instill your values and beliefs in your children.2. To encourage academic excellence in your children.
3. To speak and meet your child’s unique, individual needs.
4. To help your children through the difficult times in their lives.
5. To help your children understand the hard questions we face in life.
6. To build intimate and meaningful relationships with your children in order to show them how much you love them.
7. To share with your children the common, everyday joys of life and be there when they need you most.
8. To be your children’s mentor, spiritual leader, role model, friend and teacher.
9. To protect your children from the negative influence they may encounter outside the home.
10. To instill in your children a life-long love for learning and to show than that learning is not boring, but exciting.
While I truly love homeschooling, I don't think that you have to homeschool to accomplish most of the things on this list. It is my hope that we were working on this list LONG before we started homeschooling.
In fact, there is only one thing on this list that was a factor in deciding to homeschool. Number 10 talks about instilling a love for learning. Both of my boys had lost their love of learning in public school. So much of public education these days is teaching to the "middle" as well as teaching to tests that there is little room for personal growth of even creativity and imagination. At the point we took the boys out of school they definitely would not have described learning as fun and exciting.
So how do you feel about this list? A reason to homeschool or just a a good list of ways to be fully involved in your child's life?
Monday, July 5, 2010
Discernment
Before we were parents, hubs and I worked as youth directors. We used a book called "Learn to Discern" with our youth. It was an in-depth study on discerning things from God and things not from God.
After the boys were born we felt strongly that this was something we needed to teach our boys. One of the first Scriptures we used was "Wisdom is the application of the truth of Scripture to our lives." (James 1:5)
We wanted them to know early that every answer they needed to know could be found in the Bible. We used to play a game called "God Thought Of It First". We played the game based off a book they had of the same name.
As they have grown we have tried to get more and more indepth with our studies. We want them to understand the Biblical worldview. We have explained that bank tellers are trained to be discerning when examining money. They have to tell the difference between truth and counterfeit. We have the same responsibility as Christians. Sometimes it is tough because evil likes to disguise himself as truth. Even 2 Corinthians 11:14 says that "satan masquerades as an angel of light."
We have started to see glimpses of our boys using their discernment skills. Big Guy has come to us several times within the last few weeks and said that he needed to return some video games because the language or some other aspect of the game was not something which he thought was appropriate. Little Guy found a puzzle game which is loved playing on the computer but some of the ads on the side were not appropriate. He decided to block that site and find something else to play.
I know that they are going to have much better choices to make and we have a lot more to teach them, but knowing that they are beginning to trust God in these choices encourages me as I try to make good choices as well.
After the boys were born we felt strongly that this was something we needed to teach our boys. One of the first Scriptures we used was "Wisdom is the application of the truth of Scripture to our lives." (James 1:5)
We wanted them to know early that every answer they needed to know could be found in the Bible. We used to play a game called "God Thought Of It First". We played the game based off a book they had of the same name.
As they have grown we have tried to get more and more indepth with our studies. We want them to understand the Biblical worldview. We have explained that bank tellers are trained to be discerning when examining money. They have to tell the difference between truth and counterfeit. We have the same responsibility as Christians. Sometimes it is tough because evil likes to disguise himself as truth. Even 2 Corinthians 11:14 says that "satan masquerades as an angel of light."
We have started to see glimpses of our boys using their discernment skills. Big Guy has come to us several times within the last few weeks and said that he needed to return some video games because the language or some other aspect of the game was not something which he thought was appropriate. Little Guy found a puzzle game which is loved playing on the computer but some of the ads on the side were not appropriate. He decided to block that site and find something else to play.
I know that they are going to have much better choices to make and we have a lot more to teach them, but knowing that they are beginning to trust God in these choices encourages me as I try to make good choices as well.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Happy 234th Birthday!
Happy 234th Birthday, America!
I should have made you a cake.
I should have made you a cake.
It's the Soldier, not the reporter
who has given us the freedom of the press.
It's the Soldier, not the poet,
who has given us the freedom of speech.
It's the Soldier, not the politicians
that ensures our right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
It's the Soldier who salutes the flag,
who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag.
It's the Soldier for whom I will be
praying and thanking God for today as I pray.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
The Day They Dread
Then comes "the day". It is the day that my boys dread. I don't know why I do this, but I just have this thing about making sure that all sheets are changed and the house is picked up before we leave town. I don't want to leave the house with dishes in the dishwasher (even if they are clean) or clothes in the dryer.
There is just something about being able to come home from a vacation knowing that you are coming home to clean sheets and a clean house.
So, if you hear weeping and gnashing of teeth it is just my boys helping get ready for vacation.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Happy 4th from Applebee's
Here is a firecracker of a deal! If you are lucky enough to have kids who will actually eat off the kid's menu, Saturday, July 3rd - Monday, July 5th at Applebee's KIDS EAT FREE and you can enjoy 20% off your "Carside To Go" order!
The menu includes mini cheeseburgers, chicken fingers, grilled cheese sandwiches, fried shrimp or hot dogs, each is served with side dish and soft drink.
The Fruitful Life
As we desire to be more like Jesus, we want to live loving, joyful lives. Yet loving our enemies seems impossible. Even being patient with our family is often difficult. How can we put on the gentle garments of grace when we're so busy battling our old behavior patterns?
Navigator author Jerry Bridges explains how to practice the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23):
• love
• joy
• peace
• patience
• kindness
• goodness
• faithfulness
• gentleness
• self-control
Learn how the Holy Spirit can help in your spiritual formation as you become a serious follower of Christ.
Book Review
I was ready to start a new devotional when this arrived in my mailbox. I was immediately impressed with the fact that this book is based on Scripture instead of Mr. Bridges writing his opinions and trying to wrap Scripture around those. Because that is a very important foundation in a book for me, I was able to relax and enjoy the book.
We have all been taught the fruits of the spirit since Sunday School. We know what the fruits mean, but sometimes knowing exactly having to apply those to our every day life may be the tough part. Each chapter goes into detail as to how to "show" the fruits.
The most important thing that Mr. Bridges shows us that we are not able to do this. We have to be plugged into the source of the fruit... the Holy Spirit.
Each chapter ends with questions for discussion and personal application. It also includes a Scripture to meditate on. Although this book challenges you in every area of your life, it is a fruitful journey that is worth taking.
Curious? Read the first chapter of The Fruitful Life.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Thursday, July 1, 2010
The Long Haul
All of his friends mobilized to make sure that they were taken care of since that moment. We have organized meals to make sure that they don't have worry about how they will eat. There is a team of people who are going to make sure their yard is cut, pets are fed, and food is kept in their refrigerator so that they will have something to eat when they come home. Sitters have been lined up for their younger daughter.
A website has been set up so that people can leave messages and be contacted when there is news about Cade as it is available. You can visit his site too http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/cadeainsworth
Today one of our local radio stations is sponsoring a blood drive from 11:00 - 7:00 at MS Blood Services. If you happen to live in this area and want to donate. They are located at Lakeland Drive. They will be giving away movie passes.
Most of all, we have been praying. Monday night our church opened the sanctuary for a prayer service. We all poured our hearts on the altar on behalf of Cade, his parents and his sister. Each of us prayed that God would be glorified through the life of Cade.
How is Cade? He is a typical 13 year old. His attitude is great throughout all of this. On the day after being admitted to the hospital he looked around and said, "I wish you all would quit crying. I am the one who is sick in this bed and you don't see me crying, do you?" He is also very private and quiet guy. Because of this on Sunday I think he was ready for some privacy and decided to build a little wall of pillows so that he could have some space.
He has a long road ahead of him. 44 weeks of chemotherapy. No one tries to think of how long that is. We all are trying to think of how we can support them one day at a time.
Please add Cade to your prayer lists. We serve a great big God. Nothing is impossible with Him!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Commercials Should Have Their Own Rating Systems
Noise. That is how I feel about television. It is just noise so much of the time. I am lucky that my boys really don't like television that much.
Big Guy could care less about television. Even on nights when we have family nights, he just isn't excited when we decide to have movie night. So obviously we don't have those very often.
Little Guy watches more television than Big Guy. He has always had a routine of waking up really early -- around 6 or 6:30 and climbing into the big chair with a blanket and the cat and watching something to wake up. In general, if Little Guy is watching television the station is on Food Network, the History Channel or Discovery Channel. I can't tell you how many mornings I have come out to get some coffee only to hear his first words be, "Mom, I just saw how to make some delicious fish/chicken/pork. Can we go to the store and get ingredients?"
My problem is not with the television the boys watch, but with commercials. Just because you approve the television shows does not mean that the commercials will have the same approval.
This summer Little Guy has been on a kick watching Full House in the morning. Nothing wrong with that. I gave him approval and have even watched it with him, but then they began showing commercials for a television series on the same station. This was a tween-directed show and some of the scenes were shocking. 6:45 in the morning I am drinking my coffee and I don't need to see teenage scenes of pregnancy and two boys kissing.
It is every station too. Commercials have prompted questions like this: "Mom, what does sitting in separate bathtubs have to do with sex?" and "Mom, what is ED?" See? Commercials should have their own rating systems. And when did they see these commercials? While watching the "innocent" shows like Full House or Andy Griffith.
We have programmed The Weather Channel into our remote so that we can quickly flip over to that channel any time commercials come on. Better yet, we just tell the boys to reserve their chores for commercial times. Have to unload the dishwasher? Make up your bed? Brush your teeth? Take out the trash? Do it during the commercial break.
Our favorite way to avoid commercials is to record any shows we want to watch and just fast forward through them all together!
How do you deal with and feel about commercials? Have you gotten awkward questions because of commercials?
Big Guy could care less about television. Even on nights when we have family nights, he just isn't excited when we decide to have movie night. So obviously we don't have those very often.
Little Guy watches more television than Big Guy. He has always had a routine of waking up really early -- around 6 or 6:30 and climbing into the big chair with a blanket and the cat and watching something to wake up. In general, if Little Guy is watching television the station is on Food Network, the History Channel or Discovery Channel. I can't tell you how many mornings I have come out to get some coffee only to hear his first words be, "Mom, I just saw how to make some delicious fish/chicken/pork. Can we go to the store and get ingredients?"
My problem is not with the television the boys watch, but with commercials. Just because you approve the television shows does not mean that the commercials will have the same approval.
This summer Little Guy has been on a kick watching Full House in the morning. Nothing wrong with that. I gave him approval and have even watched it with him, but then they began showing commercials for a television series on the same station. This was a tween-directed show and some of the scenes were shocking. 6:45 in the morning I am drinking my coffee and I don't need to see teenage scenes of pregnancy and two boys kissing.
It is every station too. Commercials have prompted questions like this: "Mom, what does sitting in separate bathtubs have to do with sex?" and "Mom, what is ED?" See? Commercials should have their own rating systems. And when did they see these commercials? While watching the "innocent" shows like Full House or Andy Griffith.
We have programmed The Weather Channel into our remote so that we can quickly flip over to that channel any time commercials come on. Better yet, we just tell the boys to reserve their chores for commercial times. Have to unload the dishwasher? Make up your bed? Brush your teeth? Take out the trash? Do it during the commercial break.
Our favorite way to avoid commercials is to record any shows we want to watch and just fast forward through them all together!
How do you deal with and feel about commercials? Have you gotten awkward questions because of commercials?
Monday, June 28, 2010
"Makes Me Sad"
Big Guy has been working for one of the ladies in our church who runs a day care in her home. His hours were tough. 8:00a.m. - 6:00p.m. That is a LONG day when you are 13 years old and dealing with ten kids between the ages of 3-9. Our friend said the kids immediately loved him. I didn't doubt it because kids love Big Guy.
After a couple of days of working he crawled up onto the couch beside me and said, "Mom, I like working, but it really makes me sad. I feel so sorry for some of those kids. They eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at the daycare. They never get to eat with their parents and by the time they get home it is almost bedtime."
I knew how Big Guy felt. I can't imagine being separated from my boys that much. It has been such a blessing being a stay at home mom. That reality has hit me even more since Big Guy just turned 13. In just 5 short years he will be off to college. Just thinking about it makes me sad. I went to see Toy Story 3 where Andy has grown up and goes off to college and I cried like a baby.
Staying at home is a sacrifice. We don't go out to eat a lot. We can't take all the trips to all the amazing places we would like to go. We can't necessarily buy the boys everything we would like to. However, the time we have had to spend with them has been priceless.
I wouldn't trade it for anything and I am so glad that Big Guy looked in my eyes the other day and said, "Mom, thank you for always stay home with me. I have always felt safe and loved."
After a couple of days of working he crawled up onto the couch beside me and said, "Mom, I like working, but it really makes me sad. I feel so sorry for some of those kids. They eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at the daycare. They never get to eat with their parents and by the time they get home it is almost bedtime."
I knew how Big Guy felt. I can't imagine being separated from my boys that much. It has been such a blessing being a stay at home mom. That reality has hit me even more since Big Guy just turned 13. In just 5 short years he will be off to college. Just thinking about it makes me sad. I went to see Toy Story 3 where Andy has grown up and goes off to college and I cried like a baby.
Staying at home is a sacrifice. We don't go out to eat a lot. We can't take all the trips to all the amazing places we would like to go. We can't necessarily buy the boys everything we would like to. However, the time we have had to spend with them has been priceless.
I wouldn't trade it for anything and I am so glad that Big Guy looked in my eyes the other day and said, "Mom, thank you for always stay home with me. I have always felt safe and loved."
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Circle of Friends
I graduated from a class of hundreds. It was huge. Despite that fact, many of us were very close and felt like a group of family friends. A group of us have stayed in very close contact since we graduated almost 25 years (gulp) ago. We have shared happiness, sadness, loss, birth, marriage, laughter, and always, encouragement. It is amazing to have this group of friends in my life since we rarely if ever see each other.
Earlier this year we were all crushed when Jewel (our nickname for her) was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. We have prayed and tried everything we have known how to do to stand by Jewel during chemotherapy and then radiation. Our sweet high school friend started her last round of chemotherapy this past week and we were all so excited.
On this wave of excitement, I received news which crushed my heart. One of Big Guy's friends had gotten sick while on vacation with his family and they had brought him home. They drove straight to University Medical Center. The results were not what they expected. He is now in Blair E. Batson facing treatments and a long haul ahead of him.
Yet again another circle of friends have been affected. This sweet family goes to church with us. His parents are precious. No parents should have to hear the news they are having to deal with right now.
I would like to ask you to pray for Big Guy's friend. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I believe what Luke 1:37 says, "For with God nothing will be impossible."
Earlier this year we were all crushed when Jewel (our nickname for her) was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. We have prayed and tried everything we have known how to do to stand by Jewel during chemotherapy and then radiation. Our sweet high school friend started her last round of chemotherapy this past week and we were all so excited.
On this wave of excitement, I received news which crushed my heart. One of Big Guy's friends had gotten sick while on vacation with his family and they had brought him home. They drove straight to University Medical Center. The results were not what they expected. He is now in Blair E. Batson facing treatments and a long haul ahead of him.
Yet again another circle of friends have been affected. This sweet family goes to church with us. His parents are precious. No parents should have to hear the news they are having to deal with right now.
I would like to ask you to pray for Big Guy's friend. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I believe what Luke 1:37 says, "For with God nothing will be impossible."
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Lunch With The Bloggy Buddies
Although we don't get together nearly as often as we want to, the bloggy buddies got together for lunch this week. I love getting together with this group of friends. It isn't like we don't get together all the time online through our blogs and Facebook, but being able to sit down together is so much fun. Being able to see Wifey and how adorable she is pregnant is amazing. Being able to see Flip Flops and how much weight she has lost even since the last time I saw her is just amazing! K and I go to the same church but we never get the chance to just chat so having lunch together was special. But what was really great was getting to meet Mayberry! Yay! Finally I got to meet my sweet friend. Next time the REST of you guys have got to join us because we really missed you (you know who you are!)
For this bloggy buddy lunch we ate at the Auditorium. Have you eaten there yet? It is located in the old Duling School downtown across from St. Luke's church.
It was my first time to try them out. Yum! I browsed their menu before I went and I was glad I did because they had so many things I wanted to choose. I was hooked as soon as I saw shrimp and grits. The waitress was really sweet when I told her to hold the salad since I could not have greens and offered to bring me any other side. The only other item on the side menu that I saw was onion rings.
The onion rings were OK, but kind of greasy and slightly cold when they arrived. The shrimp and grits? DELICIOUS! It was a good size serving without being overwhelming. I would love to go back. Hubs would love the blackened redfish.
Such a great choice for lunch. Proverbs 17:22 says "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." I am pretty much convinced that I don't need more doctor's appointments, just more bloggy lunches!
For this bloggy buddy lunch we ate at the Auditorium. Have you eaten there yet? It is located in the old Duling School downtown across from St. Luke's church.
It was my first time to try them out. Yum! I browsed their menu before I went and I was glad I did because they had so many things I wanted to choose. I was hooked as soon as I saw shrimp and grits. The waitress was really sweet when I told her to hold the salad since I could not have greens and offered to bring me any other side. The only other item on the side menu that I saw was onion rings.
The onion rings were OK, but kind of greasy and slightly cold when they arrived. The shrimp and grits? DELICIOUS! It was a good size serving without being overwhelming. I would love to go back. Hubs would love the blackened redfish.
Such a great choice for lunch. Proverbs 17:22 says "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." I am pretty much convinced that I don't need more doctor's appointments, just more bloggy lunches!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
A Little Church in the Woods
Standing in front of the church is this cornerstone monument. It took quite a bit of concentrating to read the inscription. I was able to get just enough information to come home and research more. This little church was built in 1833 and doubled as a school and a church. The most noted family from this church is the Lambuth family. Rev. and Mrs. Lambuth were missionaries to China. During one of their visits home to Mississippi, their daughter died and was buried in the church cemetery.
Despite the fact that this church isn't used except for special occasions now, you can tell by how well the grounds are taken care of that this church is loved. Each third Thursday of October there is a special memorial service honoring the Lambuths and their service as missionaries.
In the morning I would love to take my blanket, my Bible and a coffee and just go sit and listen. I don't know what God has to say but I could hear His voice whispering amongst the beauty of that church grounds so clearly.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Thank you, Lord, for answering prayer!
Two weeks and a half weeks ago I told hubs that I was becoming pretty frustrated with my doctor. He just wasn't answering my questions and the only time he was doing anything was when I specifically suggested something. I was beginning to feel as though I was doctoring myself.
Immediately following that I had to take a trip to the ER again after I began having a lot of troubles similar to my last pulmonary embolism. They discovered that my medicine levels had dropped too low to prevent a pulmonary embolism. After a quick stay in the hospital I went home to more shots and meds which meant lots of trips to my doctor for lab and consults.
My frustration escalated and I began praying for God to give me another doctor. In the meantime, hub shared our frustration with his boss. He gave hubs the name and number of his wife's doctor.
I had one lab left with my current doctor so I was going to ask for my records to be transferred. It made me nervous, but I really want to find some answers.
The night before I was to go to the doctor my phone rang and my doctor's nurse says, "I know you have an appointment tomorrow, but I want you to know that your doctor has resigned and won't be here."
Talk about God answering prayer in a weird way!
Now I am seeing a new doctor and in one visit he has already started making arrangements for me to see a pulmonologist so I can start a plan of action for finding the source of these pulmonary embolisms and get off these meds. Yahoo!
Immediately following that I had to take a trip to the ER again after I began having a lot of troubles similar to my last pulmonary embolism. They discovered that my medicine levels had dropped too low to prevent a pulmonary embolism. After a quick stay in the hospital I went home to more shots and meds which meant lots of trips to my doctor for lab and consults.
My frustration escalated and I began praying for God to give me another doctor. In the meantime, hub shared our frustration with his boss. He gave hubs the name and number of his wife's doctor.
I had one lab left with my current doctor so I was going to ask for my records to be transferred. It made me nervous, but I really want to find some answers.
The night before I was to go to the doctor my phone rang and my doctor's nurse says, "I know you have an appointment tomorrow, but I want you to know that your doctor has resigned and won't be here."
Talk about God answering prayer in a weird way!
Now I am seeing a new doctor and in one visit he has already started making arrangements for me to see a pulmonologist so I can start a plan of action for finding the source of these pulmonary embolisms and get off these meds. Yahoo!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Happy Father's Day, Hubs and Daddy!
It is Saturday morning and the house is relatively quiet if you don't count the sound of those crazy vuvuzelas from the World Cup soccer game on the television. I am listening to it as I bake a birthday cake for our youth pastor's birthday to take to Sunday School in the morning.
Hubs got up bright and early to take Little Guy to the Katfishing Kids at the Turcotte Lab. (Big Guy had a late night last night with his youth group playing black light dodge ball so he decided to sleep in. Can you say serious fun?) They looked so cute leaving out all loaded up with their fishing gear and cooler full of water and snacks.
It is the day before Father's Day and I am so thankful for my sweet husband. Someone once said that "the greatest gift a father can give his children is to love and respect their mother." If that is true then my boys have already received the greatest gift from their Dad. I have never known true love and respect until I met my sweet husband.
I hope that my boys will emulate their Dad in so many other ways too. Hubs is a man of integrity. He keeps his promises. Big ones and small ones. Before we were married he promised to make me laugh every day the rest of our lives. He hasn't broken that promise.
He has his priorities in order. When Big Guy was just a baby we lived quite a distance from hub's work. Every day at 5:00 he would leave to come home so that he could have supper with us, give Big Guy his bath and have family time with us, have family prayers and put him to bed. After Big Guy was asleep, hubs would make that long drive back to work to finish his hours. He has always made his family and his boys a priority and because of that his boys trust him and know that their Dad is there for them.
He loves to have fun. I love that about my husband. He is mischievous and loves to play pranks. The boys love it too. Games? He is in. Biking? Oh yea. A round of ping pong? Watch out. Wrestling in the living room? You are on. Telling jokes in the car? We'll all be giggling. As long as we are all together... he loves to have fun.
I don't think my boys will ever appreciate just how much their Dad or I love them, but I know. And I wanted to take this chance to tell him how much I love him!
It is easy for me to recognize an amazing dad because I had an amazing Daddy. I may be 42 years old, but he is still my Daddy. I love him so much.
Happy Father's Day to Hubs and Daddy!
Hubs got up bright and early to take Little Guy to the Katfishing Kids at the Turcotte Lab. (Big Guy had a late night last night with his youth group playing black light dodge ball so he decided to sleep in. Can you say serious fun?) They looked so cute leaving out all loaded up with their fishing gear and cooler full of water and snacks.
It is the day before Father's Day and I am so thankful for my sweet husband. Someone once said that "the greatest gift a father can give his children is to love and respect their mother." If that is true then my boys have already received the greatest gift from their Dad. I have never known true love and respect until I met my sweet husband.
I hope that my boys will emulate their Dad in so many other ways too. Hubs is a man of integrity. He keeps his promises. Big ones and small ones. Before we were married he promised to make me laugh every day the rest of our lives. He hasn't broken that promise.
He has his priorities in order. When Big Guy was just a baby we lived quite a distance from hub's work. Every day at 5:00 he would leave to come home so that he could have supper with us, give Big Guy his bath and have family time with us, have family prayers and put him to bed. After Big Guy was asleep, hubs would make that long drive back to work to finish his hours. He has always made his family and his boys a priority and because of that his boys trust him and know that their Dad is there for them.
He loves to have fun. I love that about my husband. He is mischievous and loves to play pranks. The boys love it too. Games? He is in. Biking? Oh yea. A round of ping pong? Watch out. Wrestling in the living room? You are on. Telling jokes in the car? We'll all be giggling. As long as we are all together... he loves to have fun.
I don't think my boys will ever appreciate just how much their Dad or I love them, but I know. And I wanted to take this chance to tell him how much I love him!
It is easy for me to recognize an amazing dad because I had an amazing Daddy. I may be 42 years old, but he is still my Daddy. I love him so much.
Happy Father's Day to Hubs and Daddy!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Favorite Color
I have a friend whose favorite color is orange. She loves the color orange. Her car is orange. She has orange tennis shoes. Orange purse. It is kind of like her signature. If you ask her what her favorite color is she is definitely going to say orange without hesitation.
Why am I even writing about this? Because someone asked me yesterday what my favorite color is. I don't know. I have never had a favorite color. Every time someone asks me that I always say blue, but it isn't really. I don't have a favorite. I think it is another one of those things that makes me seriously weird.
I definitely appreciate color. I am love with the color of my boys' eyes. The blues of ocean waves. The greens of my yard after it has just rained. The rainbow of flowers in my neighbor's flower garden. The white clouds as the boys and I lay on the trampoline. I just can't pinpoint one as my favorite.
Do you have a favorite color? Why? What makes it your favorite?
Why am I even writing about this? Because someone asked me yesterday what my favorite color is. I don't know. I have never had a favorite color. Every time someone asks me that I always say blue, but it isn't really. I don't have a favorite. I think it is another one of those things that makes me seriously weird.
I definitely appreciate color. I am love with the color of my boys' eyes. The blues of ocean waves. The greens of my yard after it has just rained. The rainbow of flowers in my neighbor's flower garden. The white clouds as the boys and I lay on the trampoline. I just can't pinpoint one as my favorite.
Do you have a favorite color? Why? What makes it your favorite?
Friday, June 11, 2010
Summer Reading Programs
I wanted to make sure we were involved in all the local reading programs! Here are the ones I found. We don't have a Pottery Barn, but maybe you do!
When you get to the website, download the summer reading form. As your child reads books over the summer, simply fill in the titles on the form. When your child has read 10 books, take the form to a Borders or Waldenbooks store and choose a free book from the selection offered including, Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary, Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown, and The River by Gary Paulsen. No purchase is necessary to participate. The form must be completed and turned in by August 26, 2010.
Kids read 8 books and get 1 free. B&N also offers free, downloadable Parent and Educator "Activity Kits" to enhance learning through books. Get all of the details at the website.
Kids of all ages who attend Pottery Barn Story Times (held on Tuesdays in the stores), will receive a Book Club card on their first visit and a special gift after attending five story times
Scholastic has a free online summer reading club for children that began on April 30, 2010. Kids 8 and up can go online and read to help set a "World Record."
"Kids who don't read over the summer can lose as much as one to three months of learning." So true! Pizza Hut offers this "Book It" summer reading program. Check it out!
When you get to the website, download the summer reading form. As your child reads books over the summer, simply fill in the titles on the form. When your child has read 10 books, take the form to a Borders or Waldenbooks store and choose a free book from the selection offered including, Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary, Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown, and The River by Gary Paulsen. No purchase is necessary to participate. The form must be completed and turned in by August 26, 2010.
Kids of all ages who attend Pottery Barn Story Times (held on Tuesdays in the stores), will receive a Book Club card on their first visit and a special gift after attending five story times
"Kids who don't read over the summer can lose as much as one to three months of learning." So true! Pizza Hut offers this "Book It" summer reading program. Check it out!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Black Hole
Do you have a black hole in your house? Everybody has a dryer that eats socks. That kind of stuff if normal. When the boys were little their sippy cups would disappear but then we figured out they were throwing them over the side of their beds when they finished drinking of them. We found them when we changed the sheets and had to move the bed.
THAT is not what I am talking about. What I am talking about is a void and space where items disappears to and virtually never reappear!
Our black hole is very discriminating. It likes certain items. Take fingernail clippers for example. We cannot seem to keep a pair of fingernail clippers in our house. They are small, I agree. However, we should be literally tripping over fingernail clippers with the sheer volume I have bought. For the past five years, I have put fingernail clippers into every one of our stockings for Christmas. Five years. Four of us. That is 20 pairs of fingernail clippers. That doesn't count the two dozen pair I have picked up when I have found them on sale! How many pair are in the drawer right now? ZERO
The other item our black hole loves is scissors. Yet again... scissors have made an appearance in our stockings the past two years. (Sounds exciting to open our stockings, doesn't it? Woo hoo! Mom, loving these fingernail clippers and scissors!) The boys each got TWO pairs of scissors this year. Yesterday I needed a pair and neither of them had a clue where they were. These boys each have a desk for school with organizers to keep their stuff in and when they need scissors they go find MINE! So when I need a pair how many are in my drawer? ZERO
There is a new item which has begun to disappear. Tweezers. We've lost four pair so far. This must be the most well groomed black hole ever.
I am starting to think that our black hole has a thing for metal. As long as it doesn't eat my computer, we won't have to fight.
Do you have a black hole at your house?
THAT is not what I am talking about. What I am talking about is a void and space where items disappears to and virtually never reappear!
Our black hole is very discriminating. It likes certain items. Take fingernail clippers for example. We cannot seem to keep a pair of fingernail clippers in our house. They are small, I agree. However, we should be literally tripping over fingernail clippers with the sheer volume I have bought. For the past five years, I have put fingernail clippers into every one of our stockings for Christmas. Five years. Four of us. That is 20 pairs of fingernail clippers. That doesn't count the two dozen pair I have picked up when I have found them on sale! How many pair are in the drawer right now? ZERO
The other item our black hole loves is scissors. Yet again... scissors have made an appearance in our stockings the past two years. (Sounds exciting to open our stockings, doesn't it? Woo hoo! Mom, loving these fingernail clippers and scissors!) The boys each got TWO pairs of scissors this year. Yesterday I needed a pair and neither of them had a clue where they were. These boys each have a desk for school with organizers to keep their stuff in and when they need scissors they go find MINE! So when I need a pair how many are in my drawer? ZERO
There is a new item which has begun to disappear. Tweezers. We've lost four pair so far. This must be the most well groomed black hole ever.
I am starting to think that our black hole has a thing for metal. As long as it doesn't eat my computer, we won't have to fight.
Do you have a black hole at your house?
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